I used to hate going to the dentist. The sound, the scraping, the needlesโnone of it appealed. But now? I actually donโt mind.
My dentist is young, gentle, and somehow able to inject a needle into my gum without me feeling a thing. I donโt know how she does itโgum injections used to be excruciating.
So when she told me I had the early signs of gum disease, I wasnโt worried about the deep cleaning treatments she recommendedโI trust her completely. But I was concerned about the disease itself. I went home wondering:
โWhat can I do about this on my own?โ

That kicked off a deep dive into oral healthโoil pulling, remineralizing pastes, natural alternatives, and ultimately, a switch to something thatโs changed the way I think about toothpaste entirely: nano-hydroxyapatite.
๐ฅ The Peanut Oil Phase
The first thing I tried was oil pulling. Iโm cheap, and I already had a bottle of peanut oil in the cupboard from my pre-diet-awareness days. Not exactly the gold standard (coconut or sesame oil are more popular), but it worked surprisingly well.
Oil pulling has been around for centuries and is said to:
- Reduce harmful oral bacteria
- Improve gum health
- Freshen breath naturally

๐ How to Oil Pull (and Not Hate It)
At first, I found oil pulling hard. Honestly, kind of gross. I donโt love the feeling of warm, foamy oil in my mouthโit was weird and slightly gag-inducing.
I could only manage about 2 minutes before spitting it out. But like most things, your body adapts. Now Iโm up to 10โ15 minutes comfortablyโand I actually enjoy it. I do it in the sauna, which helps distract me and gives the oil a bit more warmth, making it easier to swish.
Hereโs how to do it:
- Choose your oil
- Best: Organic cold-pressed coconut oil (antibacterial + pleasant taste)
- Good: Sesame oil (the traditional Ayurvedic choice)
- Okay in a pinch: Peanut oil/ cooking oil (my budget-friendly, โwhat I hadโ option)
- Optional: Add a drop of essential oil like peppermint or clove (for flavour and extra antimicrobial power)
- Take 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of oil. Start small if it feels overwhelming.
- Swish gentlyโdonโt gargle or suck it to the back of your throat. Keep it front and relaxed.
Pro tip: Set a timer. Youโll be surprised how long a minute feels at first. - Work your way up to 15โ20 minutes. If youโre in a sauna like me, the time flies.
- Spit it in the bin, not the sinkโoil can clog drains.
- Rinse well, preferably with warm salt water, then brush.
Within a few days, my mouth felt cleaner. Less morning breath. Less bleeding when brushing. But I wanted more.
Oil pulling isnโt a miracle cure, but it is a powerful addition to a natural oral care routine. For me, it was the first step that led to better gum healthโand ultimately to discovering nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste.
๐งช Discovering Nano-Hydroxyapatite (NHA)
While researching natural ways to remineralize my teeth and reverse early gum disease, I stumbled across nano-hydroxyapatite.
Itโs a mouthful, but hereโs what you need to know:
- Itโs the exact same material your teeth and bones are made from.
- It rebuilds enamel naturally, without the risks of fluoride.
- Itโs been used by astronauts in Japan to prevent bone loss in space.
Think of it this way:
Instead of โstrengtheningโ your teeth with industrial waste byproduct (fluoride), why not just rebuild them with actual tooth powder?

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โ ๏ธ The Fluoride Problem No One Wants to Talk About
Weโve been told for decades that fluoride is essential for dental health. But hereโs what they donโt often mention:
- Fluoride is toxic in high dosesโitโs the reason toothpaste tubes say โdo not swallow.โ
- Itโs a byproduct of fertilizer and aluminum production.
- Excess fluoride can cause dental fluorosis (white spots on teeth) and skeletal fluorosis (bone damage).
- Itโs been linked to lower IQ in children when overexposed.
Why are we brushing with this stuff daily? Why are we giving it to kids with developing brains?

๐งด My Results With NHA Toothpaste
After switching to NHA toothpaste, hereโs what I noticed:
- Less tooth sensitivity
- Gums looked pinker and tighter
- Mouth feels cleaner, longer
- No foam, no harsh mintโjust clean teeth
- My dentist was visibly impressed at my follow-up.
She didnโt ask what Iโd changedโbut I told her anyway. She said ‘I am doing everything right.’
I was booked in for a deep clean to treat early-stage gum disease.
Instead, I got a gentle polishโjust to justify the visit.
Irreversible gum disease?
Reversed.

๐ What I Use (And Recommend)
I now use an NHA toothpaste dailyโand Iโm not going back.
If youโre interested, hereโs the one I use.
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Just check the ingredientsโlook for nano-hydroxyapatite, not fluoride.
Deep Dive Was It Some Carnivore Magic?
Click the Tabs above to open more content.
These are the products I currently use:
๐ง Final Thought
Youโre not supposed to swallow your toothpaste. That should tell you everything.
If thereโs a safer, smarter, and actually natural way to strengthen your teeth, why not use it?
Skip the industrial waste. Brush with NHA. Your mouth will thank you